Chris Jericho is no longer under contract with New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
It has been said that Chris Jericho wrestling Kenny Omega in New Japan Pro-Wrestling was the genesis of AEW.
Throughout his time in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Chris Jericho earned yet another Intercontinental Championship, and wrestled the four pillars of the promotion at the time, Kenny Omega, Tetsuya Naito, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Kazuchika Okada.
Even though it was his match against Tanahashi and Tanahashi himself that coined the phrase “The Forbidden Door,” it is currently being reported that Chris Jericho no longer has any NJPW commitments.
Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, reports that Jericho is no longer under contract to the Japanese promotion and actually hasn't been since he defeated Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom in 2020. Reportedly, former New Japan president Harold Meij was not a fan of Chris Jericho's deal because of the cost.
Hardly hot news....I haven’t been under contract with @njpw1972 since Jan 6, 2020. https://t.co/Dnj5mWmEfK
— Chris Jericho (@IAmJericho) June 4, 2021
Chris Jericho has stated in recent interviews that he would like to return to the promotion feeling that there is still money on the table in matches against names like Kota Ibushi, Jay White, Will Ospreay, and Minoru Suzuki.
Fightful will continue to monitor the story and report any and all updates. You can check out contact information for United States promotions in our resources section.
